Lead-free frangible projectile

ABSTRACT

Frangible projectiles free of heavy metals suitable for use in indoor target ranges comprising tungsten and at least one metal selected from the group consisting of iron and copper. The projectiles are prepared from a mixture of tungsten and iron powders, tungsten and copper powders, or tungsten, iron and copper powders and compacted without sintering.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a Continuation of application Ser. No. 08/755,963, which is based on Provisional Application No. 60/011,053.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates generally to ammunition and more particularly to frangible target ammunition, training ammunition, or sporting ammunition.

[0003] A need exists for training ammunition that can be used in indoor target ranges. Such ammunition must be frangible to reduce or eliminate the potential for ricochet. A frangible bullet, upon impact with its target, will disintegrate with no appreciable back splatter or ricochet as to cause bodily injury to the shooter or others. The need for frangible ammunition has previously been satisfied by bullets made substantially of lead.

[0004] Lead bullets, while providing the desired frangibility, also produce unwanted health risks. When fired, a lead bullet introduces airborne and residual lead particles into the air, thereby posing a threat to the health of those in the range, including employees of the range. Additionally, the lead particles produced when the bullet disintegrates upon impact with the target pose an environmental problem. The lead particles are expensive to remove, and costly to dispose of due to their toxicity. The natural toxicity of lead has prompted the search for satisfactory substitutes in a wide variety of applications.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The projectiles of the present invention satisfy the need for frangible lead free projectiles. The projectiles of the present invention closely mimic the performance and ballistic properties of lead projectiles without the negative health and environmental properties associated with lead and other heavy metal projectiles.

[0006] Specifically, the present invention provides lead free projectiles consisting essentially of a compacted, unsintered admixture of metal particles comprising tungsten and at least one metal selected from the group consisting of iron and copper, wherein the admixture is about from 10 to 90% by weight tungsten; wherein the particle size of each metal is about from 25 to 250 microns.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The present invention will be more fully understood by reference to the following description. Both a process for the preparation of frangible lead free projectiles and the lead free projectiles themselves are described below. Variations and modifications of both the process and the disclosed embodiments of the projectiles can be substituted without departing from the principles of the invention, as will be evident to those skilled in the art.

[0008] The lead free projectiles of the present invention consist essentially of compacted, unsintered admixture of metal particles comprising tungsten and at least one metal selected from the group consisting of iron and copper. The amount by weight of tungsten in the admixture is about from 10 to 90%, and preferably about from 20 to 70%. The particle size of each metal is about from 25 to 250 microns, and preferably at least about 100 microns.

[0009] The particle size of the metal particles can be determined by a variety of methods, including conventional optical measurement and sifting. A particle size of at least about 150 microns is particularly preferred. Larger particle sizes have been found to provide a desirable balance between integrity of the projectiles before and during firing, and frangibility upon impact with a target. While the relationship between particle size and performance is not fully understood, it is believed to be a function of the mechanical interlocking of the particles in the compressed, but unsintered, projectiles. This effect is generally more pronounced in larger particles.

[0010] The metals used in combination with tungsten are available in the designated particle size, or can be ground to the size required. The copper can be used in its elemental form or as an alloy such as copper 220 or 260.

[0011] The projectiles of the present invention include a variety of small arms projectiles such as centerfire ammunition from 0.17 to 0.50 caliber, shot pellets from #9 through 00 buck sizes, shotgun slugs from 0.410 bore to 12 guage, and rimfire ammunition in 0.22 caliber.

[0012] The projectiles of the invention can further comprise an outer jacket. In one possible embodiment the jacket consists essentially of metal. A wide variety of metals can be used, but the metal is preferably selected from the group consisting of copper, brass, aluminum, and zinc. Copper is particularly preferred. In another embodiment of the invention, the jacket consists essentially of polymeric material. A wide variety of polymeric materials can be used including semi-crystalline or amorphous thermoplastics, or thermosetting resins. Representative thermoplastic polymers which can be used include polyethylenes, polyamides, polycarbonates, and polystyrenes. Representative thermosetting resins which can be used include phenolics, epoxys, and silicones. Of the above polymeric materials, polyethylene is particularly preferred.

[0013] The nose of the centerfire and/or rimfire bullets of the present invention can be configured in a wide variety of profiles, including round nose, soft nose, or hollow point. In addition, the projectiles of the present invention can have a full metal jacket. When the projectiles are in the configuration of a bullet, they can include a driving band, or in embodiments with a jacket, the jacket can comprise a driving band. The driving band increases bullet accuracy and reduces bullet dispersion. The driving band also reduces friction between projectile and barrel, thereby increasing velocity without appreciable pressure increase. Shot pellets of the present invention can be spherical or have an eccentricity which improves or tightens shot dispersion. The shot pellets can optionally be plated by electrochemical methods with metal to increase lubricity and reduce corrosion. The preferred metal is copper. The shot pellets can also be coated with a polymeric material as mentioned above, preferably polyethylene or other linear low density polymeric material. Shotgun slugs will have either a forward biased centroid for pressure stabilization or a rearward biased centroid for spin stabilization. The slugs may utilize a sabot or polymeric coating mentioned above. Preferred polymeric coatings are polyethylene or other low density materials.

[0014] The frangible, lead free projectiles of the present invention can be prepared by a process where in an admixture of tungsten and at least one metal selected from the group consisting of iron and copper is placed in a feeder or hopper. The feeder or hopper dispenses a metered amount into die cavities of a rotary dial press. The material is compacted either in a single compaction step or in multiple compaction stages with a pressure of about from 50,000 to 120,000 psi. Compacting the admixture at a pressure of about 100,000 psi is preferred. The resultant effective density is in the range of about from 7.0 to 10.5 g/cc.

[0015] The range compaction die should be of a near net shape to the final projectile. For centerfire, rimfire, and rearward biased centroid slugs, the preferred compaction force is applied to the base or rear of the projectile. As a result of the compacting process, the resulting bullet is formed with a higher density toward its tail or rear end, and a lower density at its nose or tip. This measured rearward density promotes greater gyroscopic and dynamic stability, thus reducing bullet dispersion, increasing frangibility, and increasing accuracy. For forward biased centroid slugs, the compaction force is applied at the nose of the projectile. For shot pellets it is preferred that the compaction forces be applied equally to both hemispheres of the projectile, to ensure the projectile centroid is located at the geometric center of the projectile.

[0016] The desired cycle time of the powder compaction and subsequent projectile core formation is from 300 to 600 pints per minute. The finished cores are preferably slightly undersized to allow for the additions of jackets, plates, coatings, etc. The projectile coatings, jackets, or plates can be applied, for example, electrochemical, aerosol, or mechanical methods. The jacketing material to be applied can be metallic or polymeric as noted above. The jacketing material can be formed around the lead free projectile, or in the alternative, the jacketing material can be plated into the lead free bullet. As a final finishing operation, the projectiles can be swaged in a hydraulic press to add uniformity of appearance and exterior dimension.

[0017] The present invention provides lead free frangible projectiles from an improved composition of metals, the projectiles having a desirable combination of advantages. Specifically, the present invention provides projectiles that mimic the firing characteristics, performance, and frangibility of lead bullets without the negative health and environmental qualities associated with lead. The present invention minimizes the threat to human health associated with direct or indirect contact to airborne or residual lead particles by providing lead free projectiles. Similarly, by eliminating lead, the cleanup and disposal of the fragments of the projectiles of the present invention is safer, less expensive, and the resulting waste is not highly toxic and does not require special disposal.

[0018] While reducing the health and environmental problems associated with lead or other heavy metal projectiles, the bullets of the present invention mimic the desirable properties associated with lead projectiles. When fired they produce a recoil which is perceived by the shooter to be less than or similar to that produced lead projectiles. The lead free bullets of the present invention also mimic the ballistic performance of lead bullets so that their respective point of impact, accuracy, and trajectory closely approximate lead projectiles. The weight of a projectile of the present invention also closely approximates the weight of a lead projectile of the same size and caliber. The projectiles of the present invention are also frangible, and upon impact with a target, disintegrate without appreciable back splatter or ricochet. 

I claim:
 1. A lead free projectile comprising a compacted, unsintered admixture of metal particles comprising, by weight, about from 20 to 59% tungsten about from 40 to 80% copper and about from 1 to 15% iron, and wherein the particle size of each metal is about from 25 to 250 microns.
 2. A projectile of claim 1 wherein the composition by weight of each metal in the admixture is about 29% tungsten, 66% copper, and 5% iron.
 3. A projectile of claim 1 wherein the particle size of each metal is at least about 100 microns.
 4. A projectile of claim 1 wherein the particle size of each metal is at least about 150 microns.
 5. A projectile of claim 1 further comprising an outer jacket.
 6. A projectile of claim 5 wherein the outer jacket consists essentially of metal.
 7. A projectile of claim 6 wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of copper, aluminum, and zinc.
 8. A projectile of claim 7 wherein the outer jacket consists essentially of copper.
 9. A projectile of claim 5 wherein the outer jacket consists essentially of polymeric material.
 10. A projectile of claim 9 wherein the polymeric material is thermoplastic.
 11. A projectile of claim 10 wherein the thermoplastic is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polyamide, polycarbonate, and polystyrene.
 12. A projectile of claim 9 wherein the polymeric material is a thermosetting resin.
 13. A projectile of claim 12 wherein the thermosetting resin is selected from the group consisting of phenolic, epoxy, and silicone resins.
 14. A projectile of claim 11 wherein the outer jacket consists essentially of polyethylene.
 15. A projectile of claim 1 in a bullet configuration.
 16. A projectile of claim 1 in a shot configuration.
 17. A projectile of claim 1 in a slug configuration.
 18. A process for the preparation of a lead free projectile comprising placing in a die a powdered admixture of tungsten and at least one metal selected from the group consisting of iron and copper, wherein the particle size of each metal is about from 25 to 250 microns, and compacting the admixture at a pressure of about from 50,000 to 120,000 psi.
 19. A process of claim 18 wherein the admixture is compacted at a pressure of about 100,000 psi.
 20. A process of claim 18 further comprising applying a jacketing material to the resulting projectile.
 21. A process of claim 20 wherein the jacketing material is polymeric.
 22. A process of claim 21 wherein the polymeric jacketing material is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polyamide, polycarbonate, or polystyrene.
 23. A process of claim 20 wherein the jacketing material is metal.
 24. A process of claim 23 wherein the jacketing material is selected from the group consisting of copper, aluminum, and zinc.
 25. A process of claim 23 wherein the jacketing material is formed around the projectile.
 26. A process of claim 23 wherein the jacketing material is plated onto the projectile. 